Fountain device



J. HYNKO FOUNTAIN DEVICE Nov. 18, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1956 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1958 J. HYNKO FOUNTAIN DEVICE Filed Ot. 19, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HYNKO ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1958 J. HYNKO FOUNTAIN DEVICE Filed Oct. 19, 1956 INVENTOR HYNKO 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 JOHN ATTORNEY United States Patent FOUNTAIN DEVICE John Hynko, Elmira, N. Y.

Application October 19, 1956, Serial No. 617,061

2 Claims. (Cl. 299-7) This invention relates to a fountain device, and it particularly relates to a fountain which may be used in place of the commonly used punch bowl.

It has long been recognized that the ordinary punch bowl which requires repeated dippings of a ladle or cup is quite unsanitary and awkward to use. Various attempts have, therefore, been made to provide a fountain device which'can effectively take its place. However, these prior fountains were either so complex and costly in construction that they were diificult to keep clean and were too expensive to be commercially feasible; or, if not too complex, they were unable to provide for efficient operation.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a commercially feasible fountain which cannot only be adequately substituted for the old punch bowl, but which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrically-operated fountain which is easily operated and which is free from any tendency to easily break down in use.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved fountain, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eflicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction andcombination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a fountain embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the fountain of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the lower portion of the pump assembly.

Fig. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the motor shaft bearing assembly.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the splash deflector, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view of one of the outlet nozzles.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a fountain, generally designated 10, comprising a lower bowl 12 having an outwardly extending flanged rim 14, and mounted on a base 16 of generally hollow construction. The bowl 12 and base 16 are preferably constructed of stainless steel, although other suitable materials may also be used, when desired.

The bowl 12 is connected to the base 16 by means of bolts 18 and hexagonal nuts 20. The bolts 18, there being four in number, as shown, are each integral with the lower end of a lower post 22. A washer or gasket 24 is positioned between the end of each post and the bottom of the bowl, in surrounding relationship to the bolts.

At their upper ends, the lower posts 22 are each provided with an upstanding pin 26 adapted to pass through a corresponding opening in a corresponding, radiallyinwardly extending ear 28 on a splash deflector 30. After passing through the ears 28, the pins 26 are adapted to engage within corresponding bores in the lower ends of corresponding upper posts 32. The pins and their corresponding bores provide tight slip-fit joints between the lower and upper posts. Between these joints are clamped the cars 28 of the deflector 30 which is, thereby, releasably supported on the posts. This deflector 30 is provided not only with an inclined, upwardly extending side wall 34, but also with a depending skirt 36 which extends down to a position just short of the bottom of the bowl.

At their upper ends, the upper posts 32 are each provided with an integral, upwardly-extending bolt 38. Each bolt 38 is threadedly engaged in a corresponding opening in a lower support disc 40 having a central opening 42. The bolts 38 also extend through corresponding openings in the bottom of an upper bowl 44 and thence into openings in an upper support disc 46.

7 Between the upper'and lower support discs is clamped not only the bottom of the bowl 44 but also the outwardly-flanged rim 48 of a pump tube 50, this rim 48 being spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured to the bowl 44. Within this tube 50 is positioned a motor shaft 52, the lower end of which is provided with a reduced threaded portion 54 from which depends a pin 56. This pin 56 is engaged within an opening 58 centrally positioned in a bridge member 60 at the bottom of the tube. The bridge member 60 is releasably held on the tube 50 by means of lateral pins 62 engaged in bayonet slots 64 at the bottom of the tube 50. These pins 62 extend from a reduced upper portion of the bridge member 60 fitting within the tube 50, whereas the lower portion 67 of the bridge 62 member 60 seats against the lower rim 51' of the tube 50.

The upper portion of the motor shaft 52 extends through the central opening 42 in disc 40 and through a central opening 66 in the upper disc 46. A series of radially-positioned and annularly-arranged openings 68 surround opening 66 in the disc 46. The motor shaft 52 also extends through a cover member 70 vertically spaced from the open top of the upper bowl 44; this cover member being preferably constructed of transparent plastic material such as Plexiglas or the like. The cover 70 is spaced from bowl 44 to prevent rattle.

Positioned above the cover 70 is a bearing plate 72 having oppositely-positioned openings through each of which extends a reduced portion 74 of a motor mounting stud 76. Each of these studs 76 has a reduced, threaded portion 78 engaged in the opening of disc 46 corresponding to two of the openings in which are engaged threaded members 38. At the upper ends of the studs 76, the reduced portions 74 are provided with openings in their upper ends into which fit pins 80 depending from a motor housing 82. A motor 83 connected at 85 to a source of electrical energy, not shown, is provided in the housing 82. The exteriors of the reduced portions 74 are threaded to receive wing nuts 84 for clamping the cover 70 and bearing plate 72 to the studs 76. The pins 80 form a slip joint for the motor housing on the supporting studs 76.

The upper end of the motor shaft 52 extends through a sealed ball bearing 86, the portion of the shaft extending through the ball bearing being reduced, as at 88. This portion 88 is provided with a pair of pins 90 which fit into two holes 92 in a .resilient coupling disc 94. This disc is preferably constructed of neoprene rubber although other material such as polyethylene and the like may also be used. The other two holes 92 in the disc 94 receive pins 96 on the armature shaft 98 depending from the motor 83.

At the lower end of the motor shaft 52 there is provided, an impeller 100 which is held in place by a hexagonal nut 102 threaded on portion 54 of the. shaft.

It should be noted that the bottom of the tube assembly, including bridge member 60, is spaced from the bottom of the bowl 12 so that liquid may be drawn into the tube by the impeller 100.

The liquid drawn up through the tube 50 is passed through openings 68 into bowl 44 and down through the nozzles 104. From the nozzles 104, the liquid falls back into the bowl 12 to be again drawn up by the pump. mechanism and recirculated. If one wishes to fill a cup from the fountain, the cup, as indicated at 106, is placed under one of the nozzles 104. The liquid withdrawn is replenished merely by pouring additional liquid into the bowl 12.

The construction of this device is such that it may be easily disassembled for cleaning as well as for repair and replacement of parts. For example, by unscrewing the wing nuts 84, the upper bowl cover 70 and bearing plate 72 are easily removed to permit cleaning of the upper bowl. The slip fit mounting studs at 80 and at 90, 92, 94 and 96 permit easy removal of the motor and the slip fit connections at 26 permit the easy removal of the pump assembly. In fact each of the major parts are so connected that disassembly is facilitated without the necessity for using any special tools.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a fountain device, the combination of a lower bowl mounted on a base, posts extending vertically upwardly from the bottom of said base, a splash deflector surrounding said posts and extending above the rim of said lower bowl, said splash deflector including an upwardly extending side wall, 2. depending skirt, and inwardly extending ears, secured to said vertical posts, upper posts, releasably secured in vertical relation with said first mentioned posts, an upper bowl having an apertured bottom mounted on said upper posts, a pump tube extending from the apertured bottom of said upper bowl to a point adjacent the bottom of said lower bowl, studs secured to the upper ends of said upper posts, in vertical alignment therewith, a cover member secured to said studs spaced from the top of said upper bowl, a motor housing carried by said studs, an electric motor in said housing, a motor shaft depending from said motor, interiorly of said pump tube to a point closely adjacent the bottom of said lower bowl, an impeller secured to the lower portion of said motor shaft, and depending nozzles radially positioned about the underside of said upper bowl, and overlying said lower bowl, said lower bowl being of greater extent than said upper bowl.

2. In a fountain device, the combination of a lower bowl mounted on a base, posts extending vertically upwardly from the bottom of said base, a splash deflector surrounding said posts and extending above the rim of said lower bowl, said splash deflector including an upwardly extending side wall, a depending skirt, and inwardly extending ears, secured to said vertical posts, upper posts, releasably secured in vertical relation with said first mentioned posts, an upper bowl having an apertured bottom mounted on said upper posts, a pump tube extending from the apertured bottom of said upper bowl to a point adjacent the bottom of said lower bowl, studs secured to the upper ends of said upper posts, in vertical alignment therewith, a cover member secured to said studs spaced from the top of said upper bowl, a motor housing carried by said studs, an electric motor in said housing, a motor shaft depending from said motor interiorly of said pump tube to a point closely adjacent the bottom of said lower bowl, an impeller secured to the lower portion of said motor shaft, and depending nozzles radially positioned about the underside of said upper bowl, and overlying said lower bowl, said lower bowl being of greater extent than said upper bowl, and a bridge member having a pair of lateral pins at opposite ends thereof adapted to engage in bayonet slots at the lower end of said pump tube, said bridge member having a centrally positioned opening serving as a journal for the lower end of said motor shaft below said impeller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,881,100 Smith Oct. 4, 1932 2,123,892 Grady July 19, 1938 2,670,687 Waskoky Mar. 2, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 664,263 France Apr. 22, 1929 

